What kind of wimps are running Italy?

Italy, a world power with a very capable navy and air force, is being invaded by hordes of refugees from Algeria and Libya.

All along the N. African coast there are thousands of small boats tied up waiting for their next human cargo. I think the Italian military should take the initiative and sink these boats while they are in port. End of the problem. 

I shudder at the thought but if this was happening here what would our response be?

• 54 minutes ago
 
• From the sectionEurope

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EU interior ministers are to discuss how to respond to the migrant crisis in the Mediterranean, with Italy threatening a strong response if no deal is reached.

A key issue at the talks in Luxembourg is a plan to distribute asylum seekers more evenly across all 28 EU states.

Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said without agreement Italy would adopt a "Plan B" that would "hurt" Europe.

The crisis has put a huge strain on Italian, Greek and Maltese resources.

While some EU states including Germany and Austria back a deal to share a total of 60,000 asylum seekers across 25 nations, others argue that migrants should not be forced to move to countries where they do not want to settle. The UK, Denmark and Ireland have exemptions from the quota plan.

More than 1,800 migrants have died in the Mediterranean so far this year - a 20-fold increase on the same period in 2014. The majority had set sail aboard rickety, overcrowded boats from strife-torn Libya.

In recent weeks naval vessels, including the UK's HMS Bulwark, have rescued thousands of people at risk of drowning, but plans to resettle migrants across Europe and break up the smuggling networks have yet to be agreed.

For the past few days, Italy has also been involved in a row with France over the presence of more than 200 African migrants stuck on the border.

France has accused Italy of failing to respect EU asylum rules, but the Rome government has argued the migrants see Italy only as a transit country.

Going into the Luxembourg talks, French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said "we have to build solidarity for our Italian friends, and they have to build responsibility". Responsibility, he explained, must include "organising the return of irregular migrants".

Italy's 'Plan B'

Italy and Greece - which have already seen more than 100,000 boat people arrive on their shores this year - insist other EU nations must share some of the burden. Italy has seen an influx of almost 60,000 migrants, mainly from Libya.

Mr Renzi is reported to have warned that, without a fair deal, Italy would startissuing temporary visas to enable migrants to travel beyond Italy under Schengen rules.

"If the European Council chooses solidarity, then good. If it doesn't we have a Plan B ready but that would be a wound inflicted on Europe," he told Italy's Corriere della Sera.

The Schengen system removed compulsory passport controls at most of the EU's internal borders, to encourage free movement.

German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said in Luxembourg that "we're not looking to change Schengen, we're not for systematic border controls".

Although details of Italy's Plan B have not been given, reports suggest that Italy would refuse to allow migrants rescued by foreign navies to disembark on its shores.

Asked whether that was true, Italian European Affairs Minister Sandro Gozzi told BBC Radio "it is clear that in a possible second phase we will apply international maritime law in all its aspects".

EU quota proposals

• 40,000 migrants who arrive from Syria and Eritrea over the next two years to be relocated across the EU
• Of that total, 24,000 to be taken from Italy, 16,000 from Greece
• "Distribution key" criteria to include a country's population, GDP and unemployment, as well as the number of refugees already taken in
• France and Germany are expected to receive more than 30% of the relocated refugees
• Separate proposal to resettle some 20,000 mainly Syrian refugees currently living in Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey

Migrants: What can Europe achieve?

Who are the Med's migrants?

The European Commission has said it wants to adopt "immediate measures to prevent human tragedies and to deal with emergencies".

The commission wants to relocate 40,000 new arrivals over the next two years according to a "distribution key" that takes account of factors such as population, gross domestic product and unemployment, as well as the number of refugees already taken in.

However, France and Germany - which together would be expected to receive more than 30% of the relocated refugees - have asked for "fairer burden-sharing".

They also say that greater emphasis should be placed on the number of asylum seekers already taken in.

Poland has voiced its opposition to mandatory quotas, saying it is up to member states to make their own decisions.